UPDATE: Watching the Twitch E3 preview with @DJwheat and gang. In just a few minutes, Microsoft is doing their Day 0 press conference. There’s a lot of wishing and hoping for Fallout 4 (and a new Gears Of War). That sounds AWESOME to me but I won’t hold my breath, simply because Bethesda has already shot down that notion and they’ll want to let Elder Scrolls Online marinate a while first. The next Fallout won’t be for at least another year or two. What do you guys, think?

In the past week, everyone has been asking me if I am excited about E3. I don’t know how to answer without sounding like a bitter old man or being a wet towel.. Truth is: I’ve barely given E3 much thought. Everything I want from gaming is here and now so it was not a big deal to me.. Then, during HorsePLAY! LIVE EP25, TCollins89 asked why E3 is on weekdays. It got me thinking:

E3 is not for the everyday or common gamer. So what is it really about and does it really matter?

DISCLAIMER: What you are about to read is an editorial. This, like anything else on Geeky Antics, is the opinion of me, the author. I may ruffle some feathers but I am being honest and open here. Keep an open mind. I am not trying to belittle anyone. We can disagree peacefully!

As far as I’m concerned, E3 is a glorified trade show meant to hype up gamers who, somehow, can’t get enough content or want more fuel for the console wars. It is geared towards marketers, suits, developers, and journalists. Think about this:

How many of the presenters actually PLAY games? Are they gamers first or marketing/business people first? I reckon the latter is often the case.

For most, E3 is just an excuse for a change of scenery or time off from work. I would venture to say the only way you are looking forward to E3 is if you want the social experience or are super hardcore about gaming (i.e. you have to play every single major game that is released). This is wishful thinking but I think I’d care more about console gaming again if the entry points were more appealing, at least for the software itself.

That may sound harsh but I think I have finally converted back to PC for good. There are countless reasons but, for me, it’s simply because all my friends are sharded amongst different games and the PC offers too much bang for your buck to even consider dedicated console gaming. I can’t justify the cost or budget the time for a console right now. As a family man, it does not help that my kids are growing up and playing games with daddy is no longer cool. Without the bonding experience, console gaming is ho-hum. I just don’t have the time or interest to do single-player games.

I love my XBox 360 but, for the first time in around ten years, I have let my XBox LIVE subscription lapse for more than two months. My video game wall of shame beckons yet I do not feel compelled to fire her up. I am satisfied by my options on the PC and I don’t have to worry about the hidden costs or suddenly finding that online support has been shut down.

Now, I can already hear people saying that E3 is about electronic entertainment (hence the name E3 – Electronic Entertainment Expo) as a whole. That is true but it can’t be denied that the expo focuses on the gaming consoles more than anything. With that in mind, consider this fact:

During the transitionary period between console generations, we can’t expect fresh, innovative games. The developers will stick to the console with the greater install base until they figure out how to take advantage of the new framework.

I have nothing against Watch Dogs or Titanfall. I just don’t think they are system sellers for me. They are the games that are good now because there is nothing else. Besides, after how Microsoft botched up the original XBox to 360 transition, I think they will play it smart and keep the 360 going for another two to three years.

[ source: comicvine.com ]

I am no elitist but the future of gaming has been on mobile devices and the PC.. For a while now. $300-500 gets you solid upgrades for your PC and you’re good for a while. With consoles, you have the hidden costs of accessories, DLCs, micro transactions, macro transactions, forced annual releases, preferred server access, season passes, etc. Yeah, I am a smidge jaded and cynical.. But I am also hopeful, especially with so many brilliant small studios and indie developers paving the way (THANK YOU)!

Seksy Geeks Leaderboard

A leaderboard of all users on the site who have earnt karma points. The table is sorted descendingly by the amount of karma points that the users have, and also shows the user’s name and karma points total.